Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI402-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCALI402-1’, characterized by its compact, mounding and outwardly spreading growth habit; numerous pale yellow-colored flowers; resistant to  Thielaviopsis;  and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCALI402-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCALI402-1’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Calibrachoa cultivars with uniform plant habit and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Apr. 20, 2004 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ04-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ04-09, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany on May 24, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since May 25, 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar USCALI402-1 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperatures, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCALI402-1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCALI402-1’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and outwardly spreading growth habit.     -   2. Numerous pale yellow-colored flowers.     -   3. Resistant to Thielaviopsis.     -   4. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as upright as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more upright than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivar Sunbelki, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,558. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Sunbelki in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of         the cultivar Sunbelki.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbelki         differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Sunbelki had         yellow-colored flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were observed to be resistant         to Thielaviopsis whereas plants of the cultivar Sunbelki were         observed to susceptible to Thielaviopsis.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the cultivar KLECA05104, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar KLECA05104 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact and upright         than plants of the cultivar KLECA05104.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely branching than         plants of the cultivar KLECA05104.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar KLECA05104         differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar KLECA05104         had lemon Yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCALI402-1’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of typical flowers of ‘USCALI402-1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements a values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 7° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 7° C. to 21° C. Rooted young plants were grown for about eight weeks in 15-cm containers. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar USCALI402-1. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ04-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ04-09, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and outwardly             spreading plant habit. Freely branching habit with about six             to seven primary lateral branches each with multiple             secondary lateral branches; pinching enhances branching.             Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 47.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 29 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—146C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 146A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 147A; venation, 147B. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 147B; venation, 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             146B. Color, lower surface: 146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged singly arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering             habit with usually about 27 open flowers and flower buds per             lateral branch. Flowers persistent. Flowers face upright to             mostly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about four to six weeks after             planting. Plants flower continuously from April to October             in Southern California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.6 cm by 3 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 4 mm by 7 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 1.8 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: 4C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly obovate. Petal apex: Rounded; slightly mucronate.             Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth,             velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Throat             texture: Smooth, velvety. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color:             Petal, when opening, upper surface: 1C. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: 1D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: 1D;             color towards the apex becoming closer to 4D with             development; venation, 145A. Petal, fully opened, lower             surface: 4D; venation, 145A. Throat: 154B; venation, 145B.             Tube: 1C; venation, 145A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             9 mm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate.             Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             five per flower. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther color: 5C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             1A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             1.1 cm. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color: 145C. Stigma             shape: Oval. Stigma color: 145A. Ovary color: 145B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been     observed to be resistant to Thielaviopsis. Plants of the new     Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI402-1’ as illustrated and described. 